Guide: How to turn off Smart TV tracking (ACR)

Your Smart TV is most likely using automatic content recognition (ACR) to spy on your viewing habits, regardless of what you are watching. Here is how to turn off ACR and other types of tracking systems.

Turn off ACR on your TV

Vizio got caught but most Smart TVs track your viewing habits in very detailed ways. Manufacturers must ask for your permission first but it is often buried deep into the terms and conditions. Your user data is used for targeted advertisement, content recommendations, and other things. It is also sometimes shared with third parties.

Consumer Reports reports that all top five Smart TV brands in the US use ACR (automatic content recognition). Here is how to turn ACR off. While we are at it, we may as well turn off voice recording in your living room and other questionable practices (remember to do it on your smartphone, too)